Material-transfer mechanism



Feb. 17, 1931. Y B. N. ANDERSON 1,792,960

MATERIAL TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 -O O o I r 1 abtmmeqo.

1931- B. N. ANDERSON MATERIAL TRANSFER MECHANfSM Filed June 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I It town; 5.

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATENT ofFFrcE BROOKS NOTTINGHAM ANDERSON, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA MATERIAL-TRANSFER MECHANISM Application filed nine 11,

This inventionrelates to mechanism for the point of storage.

Heretofore different types of unloaders in the form of conveyorshave been used, but it has been necessary to move them outfof position and back again into position before and after the shifting of a car. This has resulted in considerable loss of time It has also pro,- duced undesirable breakage of materials, such as soft coal, due-to the excessiveweight to whichthe moving parts of the machine have been subjected during the unloading opera tion.- i v Itis an object of the present invention to provide a simple and compact mechanism onto which material will be discharged when the bottom doors of a car are opened, this-mate rial flowing by 'gravity oil of the: mechanism and onto'the conveying means adjacent thereto until a relatively small pile. is left on the apparatus whereupon said apparatus is set into motion for the purpose of transferring the material left thereon to the conveying mechanism, at whlch time said material offers but slight resistance to the transfer thereof and, consequently, danger of breakage of the c lumps of material is reduced to theminimum.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism which can be installed in a relatively shallow pit formed beneath the track, it being possible readily totransfer the mechanism from on'epit to another when desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceedsythe invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it belng understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In. the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In saiddra'wings I Figure 1 lsa plan view of the apparatus.

1930. Serial No. 460,458.

' Figure 2 isa horizontal section on the. line 22, Figure 3. v

Figure 3 is 'a central vertical section through the aparatus. Referring' to the figures by characters of reference, designates the track onwhich a car B is adapted to travel, it being understood that .the car is or the type having bottom doors adapted to open downwardly when it is desired to deliver bulkmaterial therefrom. i

A'pit 1 is adapted to be formed between the rails of the track A, this .pitbeing suitably lined with concrete if so desired. The pitis adapted to receive a casing 2 formed of metal which,'when inposition, can be supported-by sills 3. Atop plate Lend plates 5, and a bot tom plate 6 constitute walls'of the casing.

Journaled in tliecorner portions of the casing 2 are shafts 7, 8,9, and 10, carrying sprocket's'llon which are mounted endless chains 12 to which are; secured relatively small cross 'cleatsor drags13. .These chains and drags co -operateto form an endless conveyor. It isto be understood that, if preferred, a belt of rubberized fabric or other suitable material can be substituted for the chainconveyor illustrated. This conveyor is 1'1 toanother counter shaft 18., A sprocket 19' rotates with shaft 18 and adapted to drivea chain 20 mounted on a sprocket 21secured to shaft 7 The chain and sprocket mechanisms lfiand 17 constitute speed reduc ing means; As before explained this transfermechanism'is adapted to be placed in'the pit 1 and r the .upper portion. of the drag ohainsfwill move transverselyof the track in a plane r above the rails. Cover plates 22 can be socured over the casing so as to lap the drag chains and prevent bulk material from falling into the pit. The car to be emptied is placed in position over the pit so that when its bottom doors are swung downwardly the bulk material in the car will be directed onto plate 4 and between and over the drags l3 thereon. As the material is pi led in this man ner itwill flow over one or both of the rails A onto one or more conveyors adjacent to the track which are used for carrying the material to the point of storage. It has been tound in practice that all but approximately five tons of coal, for example, will flow latorally inthis way, leaving only a relatively small pile of about five tons resting on the drags and on the plate 4. The motor 14: can be then started so as to actuate the chains through the speed r duction mechanism. This will cause the drag o carry the material laterally and deliver it over one or" the rails onto the conveying means.

As the transfer mech: a, while in operation, is relieved from the excessive weight of bulk material, the movement of the drag through the iaterial will not result in excessive breakage. Should any of the inaterial tall into the pit, it would not interfere with the operation of the mechanism which is of sutficient strength to carry around with the drags any such material which might l)l()(.l-I the path thereof.

Obviously pits may be located wherever desired, and by means of suitable hoisting mechanism. a single transfer apparatus such asherein described. can be shifted from one pit to another. Ordinarily, however. the apparatus will. remain undisturbed and loaded cars will be brought to position one at a time above each pit. each car being first unloaded through one set of opened doors after which another set of doors is brought to position above the pit and opened.

The structure illustrated can of course be modified within the scope of the claims for the purpose of meeting any special conditions under which it is to be used.

What is claimed is:

1. Transfer mechanism for use beneath a car having a bottom outlet, including a easing adapted to be seated in a pit and to extend above and between the rails of a track, endless drag ng means movable around the casing trans e- ,ely of the track, said means and the casing being adapted to support a pile of bulk material delivered thereonto, the casing oonst-itutingmeans for guiding surplus material over the rails of the track. and means within the casing for actuating the dragging means for delivering transversely from the top of the casing the material of the pile remaining on the casing subsequent to the gravitation of loose material from the casing.

2. The combination with a track having a pit thereunder, of a casing seated Within and extending above the pit, the top of the easing being above the track, endless dragging means extending around the casing and niovable transversely of the track, and means in the casing for actuating the dragging ieans.

3. The combination with atrach having a pit therebelow, of a casing in the pit projecting above the top of the track for receiving bull: material delivered from a car thereabove and shedding surplus material laterally over the rails of the track, dragging means extending around the casing, a motor in the casing, and means actuated by the motor and located in the casing for operating the dragging means to deliver laterally over a rail of the track bulk material supported above said means.

4. The combination with a track having a pit thereunder, of a plate supported between and above the rails of the track for receiving bulk material delivered downwardly thcreonto and shedding it laterally over the rails to leave a relatively small pile, endless dragging means extending over the plate transversely of the track and into the pit, and means within the pit for actuating the dragging means to deliver laterally over one of the rails the bulk material remaining on the plate. i l

5. The combinationwith a track'having a pit thereunder, of endless dragging means extending into the pit and movable transversely of the track above and between the rails, and means within the pit and surrounded by the dragging means for actuating said means to deliver laterally over one of the rails material deposited on the guiding means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature. 

